The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted the ban on the importation of live goats from the United States, effective 8 October 2023. This decision follows the successful verification by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) that there are currently no reported cases of Q fever in the U.S., a disease previously detected in goats imported earlier this year.
The ban, which was instituted in June after the discovery of Coxiella burnetti— the bacterium responsible for Q fever— led to the culling of over sixty infected goats by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to mitigate any potential spread of the disease to livestock, including sheep and cattle.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. announced the lifting of the ban through Memorandum Order 43, emphasizing that the DA has implemented stringent measures to safeguard both animal and public health. “The Department of Health has assured us that animal-to-human transmission of Q fever is rare, and the infection is treatable with widely available antibiotics,” Laurel stated.
The decision comes as a relief to local farmers and the agricultural sector, which has faced challenges due to disrupted supply chains. To ensure continued safety, the BAI enhanced its pre-border measures to minimize the risk of transmission.
